Every task from acceptance to recording — 63 of them, in order, each with the deadline rule it runs on. Built for the California Residential Purchase Agreement (RPA-CA). Free, no email required.
State
California
26 states live — each one built on that state's own contract and deadline rules, not a renamed copy of this one.
Put your closing date in and get the real dates
Most checklists tell you "3 days before closing" and leave you to count. This one counts — business days, federal holidays, and the observed weekday when a holiday lands on a weekend.
Contract date
mm/dd/yyyy
Closing date
mm/dd/yyyy
63 tasks across 6 phases
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● Send executed contract to all parties
Distribute the executed PA + addenda to buyer, lender, escrow, and listing agent within 24 hours of ratification.
Buyer's agent
1 day after the contract date
● Send earnest money instructions to buyer
Provide wire or check instructions to buyer for earnest money deposit.
Buyer's agent
1 business day after the contract date
Send introduction email to all parties
Introduce yourself as the TC, share timeline expectations, and confirm communication preferences.
Buyer's agent
1 business day after the contract date
● Open escrow with title company
Send executed contract to title/escrow company and confirm escrow is opened.
Title / escrow
2 business days after the contract date
● Earnest money deposit due
Confirm earnest money has been received by escrow.
Buyer
On the earnest money due date
Order natural hazard disclosure report
Order NHD report for the property.
Buyer's agent
3 business days after the contract date
Order preliminary title report
Confirm escrow has ordered the prelim — needed to surface any liens or easements before contingencies start removing.
Title / escrow
3 business days after the contract date
Verify buyer pre-approval / proof of funds
Confirm the lender pre-approval letter is current and sufficient — or that the cash POF is dated and complete.
Buyer's agent
3 business days after the contract date
Confirm HOA documents ordered
CC&Rs, bylaws, financials, recent meeting minutes — order from the management company so the buyer has the contingency window to review.
Buyer's agent
3 business days after the contract date
Confirm earnest money received by escrow
Title / escrow
1 business day after the earnest money due date
Review preliminary title report for issues
Flag any liens, easements, CC&Rs, or other encumbrances. Loop in the buyer if anything is non-standard.
Buyer's agent
7 business days after the contract date
● Schedule general home inspection
Buyer
3 days after the contract date
Schedule pest inspection
Buyer
5 days after the contract date
Schedule sewer / lateral inspection
Some CA municipalities require a sewer-lateral inspection + certificate of compliance before close. Confirm with the city.
Buyer
5 days after the contract date
Review HOA documents with buyer
Buyer has the contingency window to review CC&Rs, bylaws, financials. Flag any rental restrictions, special assessments, or reserve-fund concerns.
Buyer's agent
7 days after the contract date
● General home inspection completed
Inspector
5 days before the inspection deadline
Review inspection report with buyer
Buyer's agent
3 days before the inspection deadline
Pest inspection completed
Inspector
3 days before the inspection deadline
● Submit repair request or contingency removal
Buyer must either request repairs, accept property as-is, or cancel.
Buyer's agent
On the inspection deadline
● Buyer removes inspection contingency
After the seller responds to any repair request, buyer must either formally remove the inspection contingency or the deal can be cancelled.
Buyer's agent
5 days after the inspection deadline
Verify all inspection-related addenda signed
Collect and file every signed repair-request / credit / addendum doc. Compliance requirement.
Buyer's agent
5 days after the inspection deadline
● Confirm appraisal ordered by lender
Follow up with lender to confirm appraisal has been ordered.
Lender
7 days after the contract date
Follow up with lender on underwriting status
Weekly check-in with the lender on loan-processing progress, starting around week 2 of the deal.
Buyer's agent
14 days after the contract date
● Appraisal completed
Appraiser
2 business days before the appraisal deadline
Review appraisal results
Buyer's agent
On the appraisal deadline
● Loan contingency removal deadline
Buyer must remove or request extension of loan contingency.
Buyer's agent
On the loan contingency deadline
Confirm homeowner's insurance ordered
Lender requires proof of insurance before issuing CTC. Cash buyers should still confirm a binder is in place by closing.
Buyer
10 days before closing
● Follow up with lender: clear to close
Check on loan status and CTC with lender.
Lender
7 days before closing
Title commitment / prelim received
Title company issues the commitment / preliminary report.
Title / escrow
7 business days after the contract date
Title review complete (Schedule B exceptions cleared)
Review the commitment; clear or resolve Schedule B exceptions.
Title / escrow
12 business days after the contract date
Payoffs / HOA demand received
Loan payoff(s) and HOA demand/estoppel received by escrow.
Title / escrow
7 business days before closing
Confirm closing date, time, and location
Title / escrow
5 business days before closing
● Request closing disclosure from lender
Ensure buyer receives CD 3 business days before closing (required by TRID).
Lender
5 business days before closing
● Confirm all contingencies removed
Buyer's agent
5 business days before closing
CPL issued to lender
Closing Protection Letter issued to the lender.
Title / escrow
5 business days before closing
Remind buyer to set up utilities
Buyer
3 business days before closing
Order home warranty
The contract calls for a home warranty — order through your preferred provider and coordinate with escrow for the closing credit.
Buyer's agent
3 days before closing
Remind buyer about wire transfer cutoff times
Ensure buyer knows wire must be received by title before closing.
Buyer's agent
2 business days before closing
Confirm funds to close amount with title
Title / escrow
2 business days before closing
Schedule final walkthrough
Buyer's agent
2 business days before closing
Review closing disclosure for accuracy
Compare the CD against contract terms — flag any discrepancies to lender + escrow before signing.
Buyer's agent
2 business days before closing
Send wire fraud warning to buyer
Reiterate that escrow will NEVER change wire instructions by email. FBI reports $100M+/year in RE wire fraud.
Buyer's agent
2 business days before closing
Final walkthrough completed
Buyer
1 business day before closing
Confirm utility transfers (water, gas, electric)
Verify the buyer's utility transfers are scheduled so there's no service gap on possession.
Buyer
On closing
Closing statement prepared & balanced
CD (financed) or ALTA settlement statement (cash) prepared and balanced.
Title / escrow
4 business days before closing
Clear to close received
Lender issues clear-to-close.
Lender
3 business days before closing
CD delivered (TRID 3-day clock started)
Closing Disclosure delivered to buyer — starts the TRID 3-business-day clock.
Title / escrow
3 business days before closing
Signing scheduled (notary / RON / in-office)
Closing appointment scheduled.
Title / escrow
2 business days before closing
● Confirm buyer wire received by title
Title / escrow
1 business day before closing
● Attend or monitor closing / signing
Buyer's agent
On closing
● Confirm recording with title
Verify county has recorded the deed.
Title / escrow
On closing
Deliver keys to buyer
Buyer's agent
On closing
● Confirm all documents signed correctly
Before recording, verify every signature page is complete + every required initial captured. Catch errors here vs after recording.
Buyer's agent
On closing
Funded (wire received & confirmed)
Funds wired and confirmed received by escrow.
Title / escrow
On closing
Confirm commission disbursement
Verify the brokerage received the correct commission amount per the closing statement.
Buyer's agent
1 business day after closing
Recorded (county confirmation)
Deed / mortgage recorded — county e-recording confirmation received.
Title / escrow
1 business day after closing
Send closing congratulations to buyer
Buyer's agent
1 day after closing
Distribute final closing documents to all parties
Send the settlement statement, recorded deed, and title policy to the buyer + lender for their files.
Buyer's agent
2 days after closing
Update CRM with closed transaction
Buyer's agent
2 business days after closing
Disbursed / policy issued / file closed
Proceeds disbursed, title policy issued, escrow file closed.
Title / escrow
2 business days after closing
Request online review from buyer
Buyer's agent
3 days after closing
Process commission split / referral fees
Ensure all splits paid per the buyer-side broker agreement, and any referral fees are dispatched.
Buyer's agent
3 business days after closing
Archive transaction file for compliance
Brokerage retention requirement — typically 3-5 years. Ensure every signed doc + addendum is in the file.
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